Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless leg syndrome is very common among all ages but not as commonly diagnosed. A person with restless leg syndrome finds it hard to fall asleep because he or she feel a strange sensation in the legs urging the person to move the legs constantly. Some people keep tossing and turning where as others prefer to take a walk. The patients describe the sensations from the restless leg syndrome's in many different ways. Some feel as if an insect is crawling on their calf muscles where as other feel mild to severe pain.
The sensations from the restless leg syndrome are felt in an around the calf muscles. I have the first hand experience of the restless leg syndrome and I sometimes find the sensations in the thighs also. For me, the sensation in the left leg are more pronounced than those felt in the right leg. Many patients feel restlessness in only one leg or equally in both legs. Some patients feel the same sensations in the upper part of the body too, though rarely.
Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder. Presence of RLS does not indicate other neurological problems. However, RLS has been diagnosed when other body disorders like diabetes, or intake of excessive caffeine is observed. Cutting down on caffeine or relief in other ailments have been found to provide relief for restless leg syndrome too.
The cause of RLS is not clear. The government has approved some medicines that are now prescribed by the medical community to provide relief to the patients suffering from the restless leg syndrome. Most people however simply resort to their own ways of dealing with RLS. Some, with me included, prefer to massage the back of the legs. It mitigates the symptoms for a few minutes to an hour in which time one can fall asleep. Some people find taking a warm bath as relaxing.
Sometimes, it feels like a psychological problem too. The more I think about it, the more the restlessness grows. If I divert my mind and start watching a TV show, I simply forget about the restlessness in minutes and I can be sitting or lying in the same position for hours without realizing that RLS is no more there. It is common therefore to fall asleep with the TV left to turn itself off using a preset timer.
RLS is found even in kids. Little did I know that the reason I used to keep moving my legs while trying to fall asleep when I was about 7 years old was because of the restless leg syndrome. Just like many people, I have learned to live with it. Since people keep moving around during the day or because their mind is diverted to the other tasks they have to take care of during the day, they do not feel the symptoms of the RLS while at work.
Restless leg syndrome patients can be provided relief allowing them to fall asleep quicker and to have a day full of energy and vigor. Patients should seek medical attention if they feel their life is getting to much affected because of the restless leg syndrome.